On October 9, Guangzhou hosted the annual summary and exchange meeting for the “International Chinese Education” column project, which attracted editors from 30 journals focused on this area. The meeting aimed to review the progress made in establishing the column and to collaboratively plan its academic impact moving forward, all in support of fostering innovation in international Chinese education.
The event was organized by the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, with Jinan University’s College of Chinese Language and Culture spearheading the logistics.
Zhang Xiaoxin, the Vice President of Jinan University, underscored the significance of the “International Chinese Education” column as a crucial instrument for enhancing academic engagement and research influence. He noted that it serves as a vital platform for transforming academic research into actionable outcomes. With nearly 120 years of experience in Chinese language education and almost 40 years of international Chinese instruction, Jinan University plays a pivotal role in foreign language and cultural exchanges. Zhang emphasized the university’s commitment to leveraging its educational and research strengths to further promote the collaborative growth of Chinese language education and its international counterpart, enhancing its role in cultural exchange and understanding between China and the world.
Zhong Yinghua, President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, pointed out that the creation of “International Chinese Education” columns in leading journals represents a strategic initiative in response to contemporary opportunities. He highlighted that this aligns with national development strategies and addresses the needs of the international Chinese education sector and its academic growth. Over the past three years, the standardized and international development of the column has yielded notable results, with collaboration among participating journals strengthening the academic community. This has created a focused platform for disseminating research in international Chinese education, utilizing the distinctive qualities of each journal to support the development of young professionals.
Yu Tianqi, Deputy Director of the Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education, reminded participants that international Chinese education functions as a vital cultural and linguistic public good from China to the world. She identified the present as a critical moment for achieving high-quality growth in this field. Looking ahead to 2024, the column aims to increase the volume of publications and enhance its service capabilities, while continuing to improve collaborative development and outreach effectiveness. Yu stressed the importance of focusing on talent cultivation and intellectual support, urging the column to prioritize academic leadership, exchanges, and nurturing younger scholars in future initiatives.
Since 2021, the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Exchange and Cooperation and the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching have been working with high-level journals to establish the “International Chinese Education” column, aiming to showcase research from international Chinese teachers, volunteers, young scholars, and society members. This initiative is designed to create a platform for academic exchange and support the development of young scholars in international Chinese education. Currently, 30 journals, bolstered by strong support from various stakeholders, have joined efforts to advance the column’s development.
